Episode 103: Tips on Turning Gratitude Into GREATfullness
“What’s your experience with gratitude? Do you write thank you letters? Do you know this emotion?” These probing questions from Dr. Michelle Flowers, a board-certified psychiatrist and guest on The Catalyst Podcast, open a fascinating dialogue on the transformative role of gratitude in healthcare. Host Dr. Lara Salyer sets the stage for a deep dive into how this profound emotion can spark innovation and foster positive change within the healthcare landscape.
Dr. Flowers, an advocate for the therapeutic power of gratitude, shares the “NOW” technique, her unique approach to cultivating gratitude among both children and adults.
This method encourages individuals to Nurture themselves, Observe their environment, and embrace Wonder, fostering a daily practice of gratitude. The discussion explores the neuroscience underpinning gratitude, with a focus on the limbic system’s role in emotion regulation and how sensory experiences can amplify our feelings of gratefulness.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Salyer and Dr. Flowers offer creative strategies for integrating gratitude into everyday life. They discuss engaging in hands-on activities like puzzles or art to stay present and grounded, and the significance of small acts of gratitude, such as penning thank-you notes or pausing to reflect on daily moments of joy. Dr. Salyer and Dr. Flowers emphasize that acknowledging the little joys and embracing gratitude can be a catalyst for positive change, enhancing personal well-being and inspiring innovation in healthcare practices.
About Dr. Michelle Flowers of Be Well Michelle MD:
Michelle Flowers, M.D. is passionate about helping people live their best lives. She always knew she wanted to raise a family and have a career she loved. She is continually inspired by her 4 children and the people who come into her office. As a mother and practicing psychiatrist for nearly twenty years, Dr. Flowers has found wellness comes from cultivating curiosity, seeing opportunities in challenges, practicing gratitude, and delighting in simple joys. “Listening to the deep wisdom that resonates within and around us allows us to move past fear and discover our power.”
She is board certified in psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Dr. Flowers completed her General Psychiatry residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago Institute for Juvenile Research.
In This Episode We're Talking About:
- How as a physician we have the choice to focus on a patient’s well-being over sickness
- Why gratefulness is the key to living a life of joy and wellness
- How it’s important for our health and well-being to let go of negative experiences
Quotes:
- “Gratefulness includes the fullness that you experience when you’re in a true state of gratitude and it’s sort of joy meets appreciation.” (9:32 | Dr. Michelle Flowers)
- “The human brain is automatically default set to hold on to negative experiences. That doesn’t serve us well in our modern era because we’re mostly safe. And we’re holding on to these many negativities that are affecting our nervous system and we have record rates of depression and anxiety. And so what is that? You know there’s something going on.” (23:43 | Dr. Michelle Flowers)
- “Sadly, a lot of times as physicians, we bought into this model of illness instead of wellness. And I, you know, this has been a gradual journey for me, but at one point I looked at the questionnaires I was giving patients and it’s like, you know, I’m disinterested, I feel bad, I have suicidal thoughts, I’m anxious, you know, and I’m giving them all these questions, planting all these thoughts. I was like, where are the well-being questions? So now I have a longer well-being questionnaire, which is I feel optimistic about the future, you know, I have quality relationships. And again, I want them finishing with those thoughts planted in their head as well. And just like you said, yeah, if you focus on pain, we’re going to find people to focus on that. Everyone has pain. If you focus on creativity, you’re going to find that, too. Yes. Oh, I love this.” (24:57 | Michelle Flowers, M.D.)
- “Start with just before you go to sleep at night, reflecting back on your day and trying to find the best part or the least worst part, if that’s where you’re at right now.” (32:02 | Dr. Michelle Flowers)
Links for this Episode:
Connect with Dr. Michelle Flowers:
Website: https://www.bewellmichellemd.com/
Instagram: @bewellmichellemd
Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
Catalyst Kit: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/catalyst_kit
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
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About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:
I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.
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